Cybersecurity

Google Quantum AI selected for DARPA quantum benchmarking initiative

Google Quantum AI has been selected by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to participate in the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). QBI is designed to assess quantum computing approaches and judge whether utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers could be developed by 2033.

The selection means Google will work with DARPA’s technical experts, who will be independent validators for its quantum computing roadmap. The evaluation aims to provide rigorous third-party benchmarking, a critical capability for the broader quantum industry.

DARPA’s QBI is not only about validation. It aims to compare different quantum technologies, superconducting qubits, photonic systems, trapped ions and other modalities under shared metrics.

Google’s involvement underscores its ongoing mission to build quantum infrastructure capable of addressing problems such as new medicine design, energy innovation and machine-learning optimisation.

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UK plans AI systems to monitor offenders and prevent crimes before they occur

The UK government is expanding its use of AI across prisons, probation and courts to monitor offenders, assess risk and prevent crime before it occurs under the AI Action Plan.

One key measure involves an AI violence prediction tool that uses factors like an offender’s age, past violent incidents and institutional behaviour to identify those most likely to pose risk.

These predictions will inform decisions to increase supervision or relocate prisoners in custody wings ahead of potential violence.

Another component scans seized mobile phone content to highlight secret or coded messages that may signal plotting of violent acts, intelligence operations or contraband activities.

Officials are also working to merge offender records across courts, prisons and probation to create a single digital identity for each offender.

UK authorities say the goal is to reduce reoffending and prioritise public and staff safety, while shifting resources from reactive investigations to proactive prevention. Civil liberties groups caution about privacy, bias and the risk of overreach if transparency and oversight are not built in.

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Apple notifies French users after commercial spyware threats surge

France’s national cybersecurity agency, CERT-FR, has confirmed that Apple issued another set of threat notifications on 3 September 2025. The alerts inform certain users that devices linked to their iCloud accounts may have been targeted by spyware.

These latest alerts mark this year’s fourth campaign, following earlier waves in March, April and June. Targeted individuals include journalists, activists, politicians, lawyers and senior officials.

CERT-FR says the attacks are highly sophisticated and involve mercenary spyware tools. Many intrusions appear to exploit zero-day or zero-click vulnerabilities, meaning no victim interaction must be compromised.

Apple advises victims to preserve threat notifications, avoid altering device settings that could obscure forensic evidence, and contact authorities and cybersecurity specialists. Users are encouraged to enable features like Lockdown Mode and update devices.

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France pushes for nighttime social media curfews for teens

French lawmakers are calling for stricter regulations on teen social media use, including mandatory nighttime curfews, following a parliamentary report examining TikTok’s psychological impact on minors.

The 324-page report, published Thursday by a National Assembly Inquiry Commission, proposes that social media accounts for 15- to 18-year-olds be automatically disabled between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. to help combat mental health issues.

The report contains 43 recommendations, including greater funding for youth mental health services, awareness campaigns in schools, and a national ban on social media access for those under 15. Platforms with algorithmic recommendation systems, like TikTok, are specifically targeted.

Arthur Delaporte, the lead rapporteur and a socialist MP, also announced plans to refer TikTok to the Paris Public Prosecutor, accusing the platform of knowingly exposing minors to harmful content.

The report follows a December 2024 lawsuit filed by seven families who claim TikTok’s content contributed to their children’s suicides.

TikTok rejected the accusations, calling the report “misleading” and highlighting its safety features for minors.

The report urges France not to wait for EU-level legislation and instead to lead on national regulation. President Emmanuel Macron previously demanded an EU-wide ban on social media for under-15s.

However, the European Commission has said cultural differences make such a bloc-wide approach unfeasible.

Looking ahead, the report supports stronger obligations in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, such as giving users greater control over content feeds and limiting algorithmic manipulation.

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EU enforces tougher cybersecurity rules under NIS2

The European Union’s NIS2 directive has officially come into force, imposing stricter cybersecurity duties on thousands of organisations.

Adopted in 2022 and implemented into national law by late 2024, the rules extend beyond critical infrastructure to cover more industries. Energy, healthcare, transport, ICT, and even waste management firms now face mandatory compliance.

Measures include multifactor authentication, encryption, backup systems, and stronger supply chain security. Senior executives are held directly responsible for failures, with penalties ranging from heavy fines to operational restrictions.

Companies must also report major incidents promptly to national authorities. Unlike ISO certifications, NIS2 requires organisations to prove compliance through internal processes or independent audits, depending on national enforcement.

Analysts warn that firms still reliant on legacy systems face a difficult transition. Yet experts agree the directive signals a decisive shift: cybersecurity is now a legal duty, not simply best practice.

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Jaguar Land Rover extends production halt after cyberattack

Jaguar Land Rover has told staff to stay at home until at least Wednesday as the company continues to recover from a cyberattack.

The hack forced JLR to shut down systems on 31 August, disrupting operations at plants in Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton, UK. Production was initially paused until 9 September but has now been extended for at least another week.

Business minister Sir Chris Bryant said it was too early to determine whether the attack was state-sponsored. The incident follows a wave of cyberattacks in the UK, including recent breaches at M&S, Harrods and train operator LNER.

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Switzerland weighs new digital security measures

The Swiss government has proposed a new regulation that would require digital service providers with more than 5,000 users to collect government-issued identification, retain subscriber data for six months, and, in some cases, disable encryption. The proposal, which does not require parliamentary approval, has triggered alarm among privacy advocates and technology companies worldwide.

The measure would impact services such as VPNs, encrypted email, and messaging platforms. The regulation would mandate providers to collect users’ email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and device port numbers, and to share them with authorities upon request, without the need for a court order.

Swiss official Jean-Louis Biberstein emphasised that the proposed regulation includes strict safeguards to prevent mass surveillance, framing the initiative as a necessary measure to address cyberattacks, organised crime, and terrorism.

While the timeline for implementation remains uncertain, the government of Switzerland is committed to a public consultation process, allowing stakeholders to provide input before any final decision is made.

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NATO and Seoul expand cybersecurity dialogue and defence ties

South Korea and NATO have pledged closer cooperation on cybersecurity following high-level talks in Seoul this week, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The discussions, led by Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs Lee Tae Woo and NATO Assistant Secretary General Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, focused on countering cyber threats and assessing risks in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.

Launched in 2023, the high-level cyber dialogue aims to deepen collaboration between South Korea and NATO in the cybersecurity domain.

The meeting followed talks between Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and NATO Military Committee chair Giuseppe Cavo Dragone during the Seoul Defence Dialogue earlier this week.

Dragone said cooperation would expand across defence exchanges, information sharing, cyberspace, space, and AI as ties between Seoul and NATO strengthen.

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China creates brain-inspired AI model

Chinese scientists have unveiled SpikingBrain1.0, the world’s first large-scale AI language model to replicate the human brain. The model reduces energy use and runs independently of Nvidia chips, departing from conventional AI architectures.

Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, SpikingBrain1.0 uses spiking neural networks to activate only the required neurons for each task, rather than processing all information simultaneously.

Instead of evaluating every word in parallel, it focuses on the most recent and relevant context, enabling faster and more efficient processing. Researchers claim the model operates 25 to 100 times faster than traditional AI systems while keeping accuracy competitive.

A significant innovation is hardware independence. SpikingBrain1.0 runs on China’s MetaX chip platform, reducing reliance on Nvidia GPUs. It also requires less than 2% of the data typically needed for pre-training large language models, making it more sustainable and accessible.

SpikingBrain1.0 could power low-energy, real-time applications such as autonomous drones, wearable devices, and edge computing. The model highlights a shift toward biologically-inspired AI prioritising efficiency and adaptability over brute-force computation.

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UK launches CAF 4.0 for cybersecurity

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has released version 4.0 of its Cyber Assessment Framework to help organisations protect essential services from rising cyber threats.

An updated CAF that provides a structured approach for assessing and improving cybersecurity and resilience across critical sectors.

Version 4.0 introduces a deeper focus on attacker methods and motivations to inform risk decisions, ensures software in essential services is developed and maintained securely, and strengthens guidance on threat detection through security monitoring and threat hunting.

AI-related cyber risks are also now covered more thoroughly throughout the framework.

The CAF primarily supports energy, healthcare, transport, digital infrastructure, and government organisations, helping them meet regulatory obligations such as the NIS Regulations.

Developed in consultation with UK cyber regulators, the framework provides clear benchmarks for assessing security outcomes relative to threat levels.

Authorities encourage system owners to adopt CAF 4.0 alongside complementary tools such as Cyber Essentials, the Cyber Resilience Audit, and Cyber Adversary Simulation services. These combined measures enhance confidence and resilience across the nation’s critical infrastructure.

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